FB: American Rivers Conference

Former Ram · September 11, 2006, 12:27:49 PM

I guess that trip to Notre Dame must have paid off for the Rams. Maybe they all got to touch the feet of toucdown Jesus on Friday during practice. Congrats to the Rams, and hopefully they follow it up this weekend in Dubuque.

Walston Hoover · September 11, 2006, 12:33:44 PM

Is Luther's running game ineffective, or why do they lack the ability to finish drives?
Speaking of ineffective running games what's the deal with Simpson, 35 carries for 54 yards, and when will Schuring be healthy for the Dutch. Looked like a great stat line Dutch2004.
Props to the Ramrods for starting off 2-0.
As much as I like to see the IIAC do well, It never pains me to see Luther lose. I guess some things we never grow out of.
Kudos to Coe at 2-0 as well, going with the Bill Snyder school of thought in scheduling nonconference games.

Floyd in Iowa City · September 11, 2006, 01:17:27 PM

Walston,

I would like to see them get it to Lamos more down in the red zone, but to this point they have been rotating he and Smith regardless of the situation. We'll see if that changes in conference games as Lamos is the power runner of the two and more suited for short yardage situations inside the 20.

One of the two interceptions by Sweers happened when they were rolling down the field in the 2nd quarter and he threw late over the middle instead of getting 3-5 yards running the ball on the edge. A Luther WR may have enticed the INT as he kept jumping up and down waving his arm thinking that he was wide open. It is still the QBs mistake for throwing the ball, but a college WR should know there are too many people in the middle of the field to know if you are open or not.

Another TD was taken away when one ref signaled TD on a Pearson 3rd down catch and a line judge came up and overruled him saying that Pearson never got a foot inbounds. That same ref also made a few other interesting calls in the game between two talented offenses.

Luther stopped another drive inside the 20 on the self-inflicted variety, as an option pitch bounced off the top of a RBs helmet and Luther lost like ten yards to fall to 3rd and 15. They completed two passes but fell inches short of converting a 1st down.

The other Luther interception down in the red zone came when Luther was down 28-16 in the 4th quarter. The running game was not being used as much at that point in the game and Sweers made a poor throw that led to the clinching Ole TD.

The running lanes were not very big on Saturday (40 carries for 132 yards as a team) and the OL needs to do a better job, but the potential is there for Luther to have a very big year on offense. Hopefully the Luther Defense gets it together this week and has a big game against Coe.

dbljay21 · September 11, 2006, 01:48:02 PM

Coach Hefty has always rotated running backs in his offensive system, with the exception of Sherden. Sherden is an exceptional talent who could handle all of the carries and still run effectively late into a game. Coach Hefty will put guys in positions where they can be successful and I am confident that he will do the same with his running backs this year. If Lamos is a more suitable back for goalline and short yardage situations, he will get the reps. And likewise for Smith. If there is not a clearcut role for the backs, the rotation will continue.

Floyd in Iowa City · September 11, 2006, 02:49:10 PM

I was thinking more like Jefferson and Davis in 2003 where Jefferson gained just under 1,000 and Davis gained like 675. I could see Lamos taking it over a little bit more in the conference games to where he is a clearer option #1 in the appropriate situations.

Luther ran the ball well in the two seasons before Sherden became a RB, so I think they will run at a nice clip when the dust settles this season as well. They didn't have the passing game back in 2003 that they have now, so there are new variables.

Not trying to call out coaching decisions, but rather I am just giving an opinion on a direction that things might be moving towards.

Floyd in Iowa City · September 11, 2006, 03:29:54 PM

Did anyone on here go to the Loras, Simpson, or Central games? I am curious how the teams and the competition looked?

8 combined fumbles in the Simpson game? Was it raining down in Indianola? It was just overcast with a little mist at times in Northfield. I see the Simpson DL showed up with 6 sacks, but it looks like the Simpson OL is still struggling.

From a distance it looks like Central is playing tough on defense so far.

The Loras Defense also looked like it had another good day other than some big plays. How does the Loras OL look?

Thanks

ram_this · September 11, 2006, 06:07:51 PM

Speaking of Bill Snyder, I see Wartburg scheduled an above .500 non-conference opponent for the first time since the IIAC began doing so again in 2001. Assuming Monmouth finishes with more wins than losses one year after making the playoffs for the first time in 113 seasons that is. They did lose a ton from last year.

I suppose Millikin (10-10 in 2004-05) could be considered decent, but Augsburg (3-17 the last two years) and Peru State? How about UW-Oshkosh (7-12 in 2001-02) before that?

Go Rams, beat Dubuque!

DutchFan2004 · September 11, 2006, 06:44:37 PM

Floyd,

breif description of the game.

The Dutch started very slow. The defense gave up two quick touchdowns. Then towards the end of the second quarter the offense woke up. The Dutch missed a feild goal and then put one through right before half. 3-13 at half. The Dutch started the second half with the ball and marched it down the field to put it at 10-13. A huge personal foul penalty killed the next drive for the Dutch. Meanwhile the Dutch D kept Hope from moving the ball the entire second half. The Dutch scored two more touchdowns to go ahead and then salt it away.

Walston

Yes he had some nice stats. As far as Schuring not sure. A week to week thing.

Turf Guy · September 11, 2006, 07:41:09 PM

Touchdown Jesus isn't the Rams new savior. It's Dillon and his staff. There's a new attitude on the practice field at Cornell and that attitude is we can win. It was evident at Alma. In the past when a game wasn't going our way there was only a handfull of players that would never quit and stay motivated enough to try to make something happen. But with the new staff leading the Rams there's little doubt that the whole team will bring everything they've got to every game for the whole 60 minutes!

coocooforcoekohawk · September 11, 2006, 08:15:27 PM

I'm sorry, but I have got to make this statement.

Coe and Central fans should be ashamed on this sight. The Rams win two games and their fans are coming out of the wood work. I'm very impressed and wish Cornell luck until they come to Cedar Rapids.

DutchFan2004 · September 11, 2006, 08:43:26 PM

CooCoo,

I have congratulated Cornell. I think its great. Lets face it. Cornell is why the IIAC is still over 500 in the preseason.

Pat Coleman · September 11, 2006, 08:54:50 PM

Augsburg might be 3-17 the past two years but they are basically the same as Cornell's season-opening opponent, Northwestern. And the game Saturday between the two schools proved it.

formerd3db · September 11, 2006, 09:11:54 PM

DutchFan2004:
Reply to yours on the MIAA board. Again, congrats on the win and good luck the rest of the season.

DutchFan2004 · September 11, 2006, 09:21:24 PM

Thanks, I was impressed with your Hope Dutchman.

Ash Park · September 11, 2006, 09:39:02 PM

What was the score between Augsburg and Northwestern? Personally I think there is more to it than just the 2-0 start bringing all the Ram fans on here. Sure that helps but like I have said before it is a new program at Cornell. A lot of bad habits are being broken and there is just good sense of pride. The true test will be if all this holds when things don't go our way.